London



W. C. FULLER.

Gun-0arriage 1,758. N0. 3 32,762. g Patented July 9, 186].

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n.PTERs, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. DC.

nmrnn srarns Parana OFFICE.

WILLIAM C-OLES FULLER, 01" LONDON, ENGLAND.

GUN-CARRIAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,762, dated July 9, 1861.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM Cones FUL- LER, of London, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain Improvements in the Construction of Carriages for Breech-Loading and other Guns, and that the following is a full and true description thereof.

My invention consists of an improved mode of constructing gun carriages especially adapted for breech loading guns but it may, in some cases be applicable to other kinds. It is suitable either for ships guns, boat guns, or those used in fortifications, and consists in the application of india rubber rings, working on a bolt or bolts parallel with the framing of the gun carriage, in such manner as to receive and neutralize the shock on each discharge, and to convey the gun and carriage instantaneously back again to its place ready for reloading.

The peculiarity and novelty of the present arrangement is that the movement takes place, not at the trunnions but between the carriage and the slide (where a slide is used) or upon the deck or platform in other cases.

Attempts have heretofore been made to lessen the effects of recoil by providing for a slight spring movement at the trunnions but in practice such arrangement is objection able, interfering with the proper action of the elevating screw and necessarily very limited in range of action. By the present plan, the gun and carriage recoil and return together and a sufficient length of spring is obtained to accomplish the purpose.

The accompanying drawings will explain the method in which this is accomplished.

Figure I. represents the plan View of a gun carriage and slide; Fig. II. a sectional elevation of the same.

A A. represents the slide; B B. parts of the carriage, to which the gun is attached by the trunnion.

C. C. D. D. are the 2 cross pieces of timber which connect the 2 checks commonly called the front and rear blocks.

E. E. is a round iron bolt which passes through the head of the slide A. A. and is secured by a nut e in front. or other convenient method. F. is an iron stop-piece screwed and keyed on to the opposite end of the bolt E.

G. G. H. H. are the india rubber rings and plates which fill up the intermediate space between the head of the slide A and the stoppiece F. Two or more of the rings, it will be observed, are placed in front of the cross piece C. C. to check the return. action and the column of rings behind, receives and neutralizes the recoil of the gun on each discharge. The length of the center bolt E. E should be adapted to the number of the rings G. G, so that when the nuts are screwed up, the cross piece C. C. may be tightly compressed between the elastic surfaces of the india rubber. By this arrange ment the gun and carriage will instantly return to their original and proper position ready for reloading. The bolt E. on which the rings work should be of the best round iron and adapted in strength to the size of the gun and carriage. For the smaller sized guns, where the charge is below 12 lbs. a bolt of 1 inch diameter will be sufficient and the rings about 4 inch diameter by 2-3 inches thickness. For heavy guns,.I prefer the bolt should be 2 or 2:} inches diameter and the rings from 5 to 6 in. diameter by about 3 inches thickness.

Fig. III. represents a slight variation of the bolt E constructed with an eye instead of a nut, and it may be secured to the head of the slide A. by a pin or a strong bolt to take in and out.

Fig. IV. is a front view of the slide A A. showing the extra thickness of timber to receive the rings G. G.

Fig. V. is a plan view of another mode of applying the rings when there is sufficient room to place them behind the rear block D D. In this case, I prefer to have 2 columns of rings of less diameter. The shock or momentum is sustained by a solid block of timber K which is held in place by 2 iron-keys dropped into mortised holes in the slide A A.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the method of carrying it into effect I would observe that the india rubber rings should be rendered permanently elastic by the process now well known as vulcanizing or mineralizing. Also that in reference to the position of the rings I do not wish to confine myself to the exact position indicated in the drawing but they may be situated higher or lower according to the difierent construction of the gun carriage placed somewhat higher and be fastened by guns generally but the particular mode or 10 a pin or bolt (see Fig. III) to 2 projecting modes of applying such springs in the coneyes or staples immediately below the port struction of gun carriages as herein set forth hole and by removing thisi pin or bolt the and described. 5 gun can be easily remove or housin or lashing to the deck of the vessel. g FULLER And What I claim and desire to secure by lVitnesses: the present invention is not the application JOHN HUsTWELL, of india rubber springs for the recoil of FREDK. GARDINER. 

